Chapter One: Changes for Kitty
"I have never been left to simply be myself before." Catherine Bennet uttered the surprising fact to the only confidante she had left: her mirror. She considered it further in her head, finding it to be quite true. For her entire life, Kitty had been told that if she only behaved like someone else, she would have the right of things. Try to be more serene, like Jane; more charming, like Lizzy; more lively, like Lydia; more studious, like Mary. No one was ever told to be like Kitty, because she had spent her seventeen years trying to be an amalgamation of her four sisters.
Kitty didn't even know what she would like most to do if left alone for an hour. It seemed a simple question, but there had always been Lydia, Mary or her mother prodding her into something. If Kitty even seemed idle for a moment, Lydia always lured her to town, Mary to the sermons and pianoforte, her mother to some sewing matter. This led to passable social skills, a passion for music, and an absolute expertise in the field of bonnet trimming.
Her reverie was interrupted by a sharp rapping at the door and the shrill voice of her mother. "Kitty ... Kitty! Get dressed, you silly girl, and come downstairs for breakfast at once. We have much to do today to prepare for the wedding."
Twisting her hair on top of her head, Kitty looked in the mirror, seeing a strength and resolve that were usually absent from her features. "You are Catherine Felicity Bennet, and you can make your own decisions." she said, quietly, and stood up, walking down to breakfast.
Unfortunately, it was a solid two months before Kitty could do anything very new with herself. She had spent the interim reading and taking long tramps through the countryside, as Lizzy had been accustomed to in the past and playing the pianoforte with such a delicate touch that Mr. Bennet often wondered if Mary had finally been granted talent. He still took little notice of his remaining family: to him, they were all silly with little hope of redemption, and unworthy of too much bother. This is why it was a particular surprise to him when there was a slight tapping on his study door one autumn evening.
"Come in." he said, somewhat irritably.
Kitty entered, and Mr. Bennet noted that she was looking somewhat different of late. Her hairstyle was simpler, and she had appropriated some of the plainer, more becoming dresses that Jane had left at home. "I'm sorry to disturb you, father, but I wondered if I could ask you a question."
Mr. Bennet sighed. "For the last time, Kitty, you may not go to Brighton."
'I suppose I deserved that' Kitty thought to herself, taking a deep breath, and preparing to continue. "That's not what I was concerned with." she continued, evenly. "I was going to ask you for a recommendation of something to read. I've finished the Shakespeare, and there's so many books downstairs that I'm quite baffled as to where to go next."
Mr. Bennet raised an eyebrow. "You've been reading my Shakespeare?"
Kitty flinched back, a move which Mr. Bennet noticed and cast her eyes to the floor. For all the inner strength she was trying to build, her father was a consistently intimidating force in her life. "Yes, father, I have."
Considering this somewhat surprising information for a moment, Mr. Bennet wondered if he had misjudged his daughter. "Well, girl, come now." he said, smiling at Kitty, a friendlier tone creeping into his voice. "Which did you like best? A Midsummer's Night Dream? Much Ado About Nothing?"
Meeting her father's gaze with a timid smile, Kitty blushed a bit. "You're going to think it odd of me, but my favorites were Julius Caesar and Hamlet. I enjoyed the comedies, but there was just something about the despair of Hamlet that drew me in. And Marc Anthony's speech after Caesar's death was so inspiring."
Mr. Bennet was almost unsure if he was looking at Catherine, if his silly daughter was actually professing admiration for his favorite works of Shakespeare, but he took her at her word, more than happy to have someone to discuss literature with. "Well, Kitty, if you enjoyed the Shakespeare, I can certainly recommend some books to you." He stood from his desk. "Come, my dear, I'll show you my favorites in the library."
A few weeks after the tour of her library, when she had been having regular reading discussions with her father, Kitty was surprised to receive two letters in the post, one from her sister Lydia, and the other from Elizabeth. Lydia's was, of course, centered on herself.
Dearest Kitty,Things are so dull up here in North! Really all the officers have been quite cold to me since the marriage. Frankly, I don't see the problem. I don't put up a fuss when Wickham flirts with all sorts of women, so why should they care how I behave? It is most vexing. I got a new dress on Thursday, it is pink muslin with trim of purple lace, it would look nice on you but I daresay it suits me better. I got a new bonnet to go with it but I am having the most awful time trimming it, I wish that you were here to do it for me.
Anyway I was writing to tell you that I am with child, and want you most dreadfully for my confinement. It isn't to be for another six months but there is all manner of things that need to be done for me. I'm sure Papa would give his consent. I need you dreadfully, Kitty, there is no one here to trim my bonnets and help me with my hems. I am sure I could catch you a husband, too.
Love,
Lydia Wickham
Kitty frowned. She was not so far removed from her former self that this offer held no appeal, but she resolutely tossed it aside until after she had at least opened Elizabeth's letter.
Dear Kitty,Pemberley is such a beautiful place, I don't know what I've done to deserve being mistress of such wonder, but I thank God daily for my chance. I have had such a lovely trip through Europe, and am having more fun taking care of a home than I ever thought possible.
I know it must have been a great disappointment to you that Jane and Mr. Bingley decided to stay in London for the time being. I called on them when we visited Darcy's townhouse, and can tell you that Jane is looking very well. I know it seems dreadfully fast, but her confinement is to be in six months, and she should be near Longbourn for the occasion.
Papa writes me that you've been exploring his library, and have stumbled upon some of our old favorites. Good for you, Kitty. You know I am distressingly frank, but I had always hoped that when Lydia finally moved away, you'd prove that you had a good head on your shoulders. It is because of this that I want to invite you to spend some months here at Pemberley with us. I hate to deprive Papa of his latest reading partner, but Georgiana and I would enjoy having another companion, and I think a change of scenery would do you good. I hate to rush you, but if you want to accept, simply depart as soon as you can after getting this, so that you can reach Pemberley before the roads become impassable. I truly would like you to come for the holiday.
Love,
Elizabeth Darcy
"Well, Kitty." her father said, from behind her. "I see just as I discover sense in you my other daughters wish to snatch you from under my wing." He smiled at her to soften his words.
"It is sweet of them both to offer." Kitty said.
"You can go to whomever you'd like." Mr. Bennet said, restraining himself from pushing her towards Lizzy. This, he felt, was Kitty's final test. She'd shown sense and wit in these past months at Longbourn, but he had realized that her essential problem earlier had been lack of will and identity. It would be much easier to revert to her old ways and run to Lydia than it would be to brave the society of the finer people that his other daughter had married into. That would require courage and self-confidence.
He realized he had underestimated Kitty however, when she merely looked at him and said "Papa, I have no wish to spend the rest of my life trimming other people's bonnets."
The carriage pulled out for Pemberley the next day. Mrs. Bennet was taken abed with an attack of nerves when she heard of Lydia and Jane's upcoming confinements and Mary was attending an early church service, so Kitty was seen off only by her father, a not entirely dreadful prospect for her.
Mr. Bennet kissed her on the forehead. "I shall miss you, my dear, which is something I never really saw myself saying before. You've grown up tremendously in the past few months, and I know Lizzy will do rightly by you."
Kitty impulsively threw her arms around her father, which bothered him less than he may've let on. "You've been wonderful to me, Papa." she said, quietly. "Without you helping me, I may be on my way to my other sister right now."
Patting her on the head again, Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. "Well, Kitty" he began, with somewhat of a grin "If you're a very good girl and Lizzy says you've done well, maybe I shall let you go to Brighton."
It was to the benefit of both Bennets that they left each other laughing.
Chapter Two: An Evening at the Inn
"Why did I agree to travel alone?" Kitty said to herself, with a sigh, as she got out of the carriage at the inn she was to stop at. Her dress felt grimy, and she had spent the past day alone, staring out of the window and avoiding the leers of the coachmen. A boy from the inn fetched her trunk, and the innkeeper's wife met her at the door.
"Hello, dear, you must be Miss Bennet." the woman said, kindly. She seemed around thirty, had a motherly look about her, and was determined to be nice to this young woman, who had the patronage of the Darcys. Custom was scarce during the late fall months, as the roads would soon become impassable, so it was to her advantage in many ways to treat this girl well. "Come in, you must be tired. I'll have Ellen draw you a bath."
Kitty gladly stepped forward. "I am Catherine Bennet. You must be Mrs. Bradford."
"Of course I am, dear." Taking Kitty's hand, she led her through the door. "Robert, see that Miss Bennet's things are put in the green room." The common room of the inn was comfortably furnished, and welcoming, with a fire roaring. Mrs. Bradford led her to a large table, and, after sitting Kitty down, took two mugs from a nearby counter, handing Kitty one. "Do call me Meghan."
"Meghan." Kitty paused. "I don't think I've ever heard that name before, it's quite pretty. Please call me Catherine. Or Kitty, if you prefer."
"I'm Irish. Straight from Dublin." Meghan smiled at her guest. "Richard married me when he was working for the British government there."
"Ireland must be beautiful." Kitty looked envious. "This is the first time that I've ever been out of Hertfordshire."
"Ireland is lovely. If it weren't for my Richard and my children, I would not find it in my heart to stay here, beautiful country though it is." Meghan sipped at the cocoa.
"Are your children here now?" Kitty inquired, looking about the room for signs of life. "I'd love to meet them."
Meghan's face brightened further at mention of her children. "If you're sure you don't mind, I'll call them in now."
"I'm sure I don't." Kitty said, with a smile.
Turning to the door, Meghan shouted "Children! Our guest would like to meet you."
Two boys and a girl scampered in, with a toddler after them, carried by a teenaged nursemaid. "Kitty, those two boys are Richard Jr. and Patrick. That's their sister, Elizabeth, and the baby, Kathleen, with their nurse, my cousin Bridget. Children, this is Miss Catherine."
None of the children looked older than six, and Kitty knelt down to their level. "Hello." she said, sweetly. "It's nice to meet you."
Richard Jr. bowed very formally. He looked to be the eldest. Patrick didn't realize the gravity of the situation, and immediately grabbed at Kitty's necklace. "Pretty." he said, with a smile.
"Patrick!" Meghan said, worriedly. "Let her necklace go."
With a smile, Patrick wandered back to Bridget's arms, and Elizabeth walked up to Kitty. "I'm Beth." she said, daintily. She appeared to be about five, and Patrick, three. "You have a very pretty dress. Are you going to stay with us forever?"
Kitty was immediately charmed by the little girl. "No, dear, I'm afraid that I won't. I'm going to visit my sister. Her name is Elizabeth, too."
"Is she pretty?" Beth asked, solemnly.
"Very pretty." Kitty answered, with a smile. "Much prettier than me."
After this, Kathleen let out a wail, which set cheery Patrick to crying as she pulled his hair, and Bridget gave a panicked look, herding the children back into the nursery. Beth waved merrily at Kitty until the door shut.
"Meghan, they're adorable!" Kitty was so charmed by the children that using her hostess' Christian name came easily to her.
With a look of pride, Meghan answered her. "They are quite the brood. Beth has a habit of asking questions that shock everyone and Richard's already fallen twice out of the hayloft when no one's looking. I wouldn't ever want a thing changed. Their father absolutely adores them, although I think Beth is his personal favourite."
"My sister Elizabeth was always my father's favourite, too." Kitty replied.
"How many girls are there in your family? I had heard there was no sons, but varied reports on the daughters." Meghan asked, curiously.
"Five." Kitty grinned. "My poor mother has had fits at getting us married."
"Are you her favourite then?" Meghan asked, half teasingly.
Kitty laughed. "Far from it. My sister Lydia was. Lydia is quite a flirt and scatterbrained, just like Mama. She loved Jane for her beauty, but the rest of us paled in comparison to Lydia."
"How many of you are married?"
"Lydia is married to Officer Wickham, they live in the North." Kitty paused. "I was never my father's favourite because, until recently, I was far too much like Lydia. She is a selfish and thoughtless woman. My sister Jane is married to Mr. Bingley, and of course, Lizzy is married to Mr. Darcy. Mary remains at home, but I rather think that she prefers her studies to anything else."
"And what about you, Kitty?" Meghan looked intrigued. "If Lydia was the flirt, Jane the beauty, and I know from reputation that Mrs. Darcy was the brains, and Mary the bookworm, what were you?"
Kitty smiled somewhat self deprecatingly. "Until very recently, I spent my time trying to be like all of my sisters. Although I miss them dreadfully, it was nice when they left. I had more of a chance to be myself."
Meghan nodded. "I can understand that. I always worry with that about my boy, Patrick. Between Beth's intelligence and Richard's antics, I fear that he gets lost at times."
At this point, an older woman in an apron came down the stairs. "The bath is prepared for Miss Bennet, ma'am."
Kitty smiled. "This chat has been wonderful, but I fear that almost nothing could tempt me from a hot bath right now."
Meghan nodded. "Of course, dear. As soon as you're done bathing and dressed, we should all be gathering for dinner, in the dining room over that way."
With that, Kitty let herself be led upstairs.
About an hour later, Kitty was finishing dressing in her room, feeling much refreshed. After the marriage, she had abandoned most of the absurd dresses that she and Lydia had made for Jane's, as they were of a similar build. The one she chose for dinner was a soft green, which suited Kitty. She was not as fair as Jane or as dark as Lizzy, but her hair was a nice nut-brown, and her eyes a clear amber color. Lydia had favored overly fussy styles of clothing, but Kitty found that the classic looks suited her rather more.
Putting her necklace back on and checking her reflection one more time, Kitty walked down the stairs into the dining room Meghan had pointed out to her, which was about half full with people. Kitty's eyes widened, as she had somehow got the impression that she was the only one staying here. There was simply one large table, and Meghan waved her over.
"Here, dear. Sit down." Meghan patted a seat next to hers, and Kitty sat gratefully. She found herself next to an older woman, and across from... she paused, and looked again. Across from one of the most intriguing looking men that she'd seen for quite some time. He wasn't quite handsome in the showy-Wickham way, but he reminded Kitty of Mr. Darcy. He was very tall, and looked about twenty-four, clearly one of the Black Irish, with crisp dark hair and bright blue eyes.
Meghan smiled at Kitty's reaction. "Miss Bennet, may I introduce you to my brother, Liam Blair. Liam, this is Miss Catherine Bennet who will be staying with us for the night."
"It is nice to meet you, Miss Bennet." Liam said, with a friendly grin.
Kitty managed a smile back. "You as well, Mr. Blair."
Meghan continued on. "My brother is travelling towards London on some business and stopped to see his nieces and nephews for a time."
"They are charming children." Kitty addressed Mr. Blair. "You are very lucky, Mr. Blair."
"Until I marry and have children of my own, Meghan's are my favorite to visit." Liam gave Kitty a disarmingly charming look. "My sister has already informed you that I'm off to London, so where is your final destination, Miss Catherine Bennet?"
Kitty blushed slightly, out of habit more than embarrassment. "To my sister, Mrs. Darcy's home, Pemberley. I'm to visit her, and stand companion to Miss Darcy for the winter months."
Liam's face closed off soundly. "The Darcys? Well, I'm sure that will be a nice time for you, Miss Bennet." With that, he turned to his sister. "Meghan, you'll have to excuse me for the rest of the meal, I have business to attend to." He stood up, and bowed coolly. "A pleasure, Miss Bennet." His tone was icy as he walked away without even waiting for Meghan's acknowledgement.
Kitty was mortified, and bright red. She looked pleadingly at Meghan. "What did I say?" she asked, quietly, but Meghan looked as mystified as herself.
"I have no idea. Liam's never behaved so frightfully in his life. He does take moods, but that was something else. I'm really very sorry, Kitty." Meghan frowned, and bit her lip.
The next morning, Kitty got into the coach to make the last four hours of her trip. Meghan was sad to see her go, and the two exchanged addresses, promising to write whenever they could. As Kitty left, she was almost happy. Despite the pleasant visit, the way Liam had cut her the night before had embarrassed her dreadfully. She stared back at the inn as she was driving away, and then started suddenly, as she saw Liam's face watching her carriage leave out the window of the top floor room.
Chapter Three: Further Education of Catherine
Kitty stepped out of the wagon around noon, her eyes wide, her sister standing before her. "Lizzy." She embraced her sister and then kept staring about the grounds. "This is.. it's..."
Lizzy laughed. "You look like I did when Aunt and Uncle Gardiner bought me here. Come with me, dear. John will see to your trunks. Georgiana is simply dying to meet you."
Kitty allowed herself to be led into a grand entrance hall, all the while trying (and failing) to keep from gawking obviously at the grandeur her sister lived in. Netherfield Hall was a mere country house compared with Pemberley, and Longbourn was a shack. Lizzy eventually led her into a smaller room, which was still grandly and tastefully furnished enough so that Kitty barely felt comfortable walking over the rug. There, stood Mr. Darcy, looking as tall and formidable as ever, and a girl who must be Miss Darcy.
Miss Darcy had nothing of her brother's dark coloring about her, but instead she had curly golden hair, currently tied up, but probably quite long, and wide china-blue eyes. She was a classic beauty, and looked somewhat haughty. Kitty kept in her mind the fact that Lizzy constantly reminded her that Georgiana was simply shy, not proud.
Mr. Darcy bowed to her crisply. "Miss Catherine, it is good to see you."
Kitty gave Lizzy a look. Was her brother in law really going to be so formal to her, and would he really disapprove if she said something?
Lizzy smiled at her sister, and raised one eyebrow, clearly giving Kitty the go-ahead to say anything she liked to Mr. Darcy.
Kitty smiled, and curtsied. "Mr. Darcy, I don't believe that I've been called Catherine by a family member in years. If I'm going to be here until at least Christmas, surely it would be easier to call me Kitty."
Although he did not smile, or laugh, there was somewhat of a softening in Fitzwilliam's regard. "Kitty, then, it is. And you will extend me the same courtesies in addressing me as Fitzwilliam. May I present to you my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy?"
Georgiana curtsied, and Kitty smiled at her. "Very pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Darcy. Lizzy has told me so much about you that I feel as though I know you already."
With a blush, Georgiana spoke. "Please, call me Georgiana."
"And you will call me Kitty as well?" She smiled. "I'd hardly know to answer if everyone around here started referring to me as Catherine."
"Of course I will, Kitty." Georgiana smiled timidly.
"Very good." Elizabeth broke in. "Now that you're all reacquainted and acquainted, we can talk like sensible people." She turned to Kitty. "How was your trip, dear? You don't look too disheveled, but you just came a few hours today."
Kitty wrinkled her nose. "Dreadful for the most part." She grinned wryly. "I thought that the hot bath at the inn last night was heaven."
"How was the Inn?" Fitzwilliam asked, curiously. "It came highly recommended."
"The mistress of the inn was lovely." Kitty smiled fondly. "Mrs. Bradford was a very sweet woman, and I'm looking forward to making her a permanent acquaintance. Her children were so adorable, I'm quite anxious for Lydia and Jane's to arrive."
Lizzy's eyebrows raised. "Lydia is with child?"
"Oh!" Kitty gasped. "I quite forgot to tell you. I received a letter from her at the same time I got yours." She grinned mischievously. "Lydia wanted me to come wait on her and trim her bonnets during her confinement." She then paled, realizing that by mentioning Lydia, she was bringing up Wickham, surely a sore subject in this house because of the falling out he had with Mr. Darcy. Fitzwilliam looked unperturbed, but Kitty wondered why Georgiana looked upset.
"You came here instead of going to Lydia?" Elizabeth asked, quizzically, giving her sister a piercing look.
Kitty held Lizzy's gaze, and nodded. "I came here instead of going to Lydia." she repeated, calmly.
Fitzwilliam cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room after Kitty's statement. "Elizabeth, I believe Kitty would like to see her room and get to unpacking." he said, broadly hinting at his wife.
Elizabeth shook her head slightly as though coming out of a deep thought. "Of course." she said. "Georgiana, will you show Kitty to her rooms? We've put you across the hall from Georgiana, so you can both get ready for tea together." Lizzy smiled mischievously. "We're to have company, so dress yourselves nicely."
"Of course." Georgina stood up. "Miss - I mean, Kitty - if you'll follow me?"
Kitty stood from her chair and turned to face Fitzwilliam and her sister. "I wish to thank you again for your generous invitation. I know that if it were not upon recommendation of my father that neither of you would look upon my coming as more than a burden, but as it is, I hope I can be a good guest and companion to you both."
Although this speech was very solemn for Kitty's nature, and somewhat so for Elizabeth's liking, Fitzwilliam appreciated it's sincerity and decorum, and smiled at Kitty. "I'm sure you will be both a good guest and sister, Kitty." he said, and the two girls exited the room.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Lizzy turned to her husband. "My, but that is wondrous strange." she said, still sounding confused. "She came to us over Lydia."
"Perhaps she truly has changed." Fitzwilliam replied, idly.
"You don't understand, dear." Lizzy said, distantly. "Kitty always followed where Lydia led. I do suppose Jane and I could've paid more attention to her, but we were so close that we barely interacted with the younger two. It is shocking indeed that she would chose to come here over a visit with Lydia."
Chapter Four: A Gentleman's Way
Kitty had been staying comfortably at Pemberley for two weeks now. To Lizzy's surprise, when deprived of Lydia, Kitty's manner was much more like Georgiana's than she'd ever expected. Observing Georgiana and Fitzwilliam seemed to complete the maturing process that Kitty had begun herself at Longbourn, where there were few examples for her to follow. This is not to say that she ever truly cast off her impulsive nature, simply that as she matured, her outburst changed. Whereas before an energetic fit would see Kitty dashing to Meryton to flirt with officers, or fussing about dress, she now was more often found reciting her favorite Shakespearean speeches to Georgiana in the library, using odd dialects that made the other girl collapse with laughter or taking long horseback rides with her brother-in-law. The two of them had bonded over the fact that they were the only ones in the who had a decent seat. Where Kitty had once been embarrassing and vulgar, she was now spirited and charming.
"You would hardly know her from a year ago." Lizzy mused to her husband, one day in the parlor. "I'd expected some improvement from Papa's letter, but hardly this much. I had no idea what getting her out of Lydia and Mama's influence could do." She gave her husband a somewhat chagrined look. "I feel guilty now that I missed so much potential with her. The Kitty that is here as dear to me as Jane and Georgiana."
Fitzwilliam felt an inner happiness, both that his sister-in-law was so enjoyable and that his own sister was counted among those dearest to his wife. "Don't feel guilty, Elizabeth. No matter what you could have done, this change never would have taken place if Kitty herself had not started on some inner reflection."
Kitty cleared her throat from the doorway, where she stood in a scarlet dress, her cheeks red from one of her walks outside. "I'm sorry" she said "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I simply heard your last sentence."
"Come in, dear." Lizzy smiled at her sister.
Taking a seat on her favorite chair, Kitty smiled at her sister and brother in law. "Fitzwilliam, it was true what you said before." She turned to look frankly at Lizzy. "After you, Jane and Lydia were gone, I was left with an inordinate amount of time to myself, and I realized that I'd spent most of my life trying to be like you and Jane and Lydia and Mary. I decided to be myself, to see what I enjoy and want. And.." Kitty paused, shrugging her shoulders. "I like to read. I like Shakespeare. I like to ride and walk about in the wind. I like to play the pianoforte." Her face colored a bit. "I always felt like I was putting on a show when I was with Lydia, especially with the officers."
Lizzy nodded, and glanced to her husband, who gave Kitty a serious look. "You know, Kitty, the fact that you came to these conclusions on your own simply proves their value, as well as the fact that you had this sort of maturity in you for your whole life."
At that point, Mrs. Reynolds, the housekeeper, entered. "Miss Kitty, there is a caller to see you." she said, her face somewhat confused. "A gentleman by the name of Mr. Liam Blair."
Lizzy and Fitzwilliam both looked over to Kitty, who looked just as startled as they did. "He is the brother of my friend Mrs. Bradford at the Inn." she said, standing up. "I hope that he doesn't bring bad tidings of Meghan! Lizzy, Fitzwilliam, will you excuse me?"
"Of course." Elizabeth said, understandingly. "Mrs. Reynolds, you will show them to the green room?"
Mrs. Reynolds gave Elizabeth a brief curtsy for reply, and Kitty anxiously followed her to the front of the house, not even pausing to put herself in order before receiving her guest. She reached the green room, which was right off the front entry, and frequently used for brief calls, and saw Liam Blair, looking unperturbed, standing in the middle of the room.
"Mr. Blair." Barely remembering her manners, Kitty dropped a brief curtsy, and continued anxiously before he could respond. "Is all well with Meghan and the children?"
Liam looked confused. "Miss Bennet." he said, with a bow. "Pray, sit down." Kitty did so, fearing for the worst. "Meghan and the children are perfectly fine." his tone implied his incredulity that she would believe them anything but.
"Oh." Kitty's expression changed from concerned to confused. "Then why have you come calling?" Immediately, she blushed. "I'm sorry, Mr. Blair, that was dreadfully blunt. It's simply.. well ... from our first meeting I had not conceived that you had a very good impression of me."
Liam's face took on a graver look. "That, Miss Bennet, is what leads me to call on you here."
"At the time of our first meeting" Liam said, quite gravely "I did not behave like a gentleman. I came to offer my apologies to you."
It took all of Kitty's effort to keep her jaw from dropping open. He was coming to apologize to her? She collected herself in a moment. "Your apology is accepted, Mr. Blair." she said, quietly. "I find it very admirable of you to ride four hours to apologize to a young woman you met for a few moments only over a dinner." Although her tone was kind, there was also somewhat of suspicion in it that caused Liam's shoulder's to drop, and an almost inaudible sigh to emit from him.
"You are too clever by half, Miss Bennet." he said, cryptically.
Kitty sat up a little straighter. She thought that there must be some ulterior motive to Liam's journey. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Blair?" she inquired, a somewhat sharp edge to her tone.
"I should speak of this to your brother in law if I am to disclose what I know." was Liam's cryptic reply. To this, Kitty nodded, and picked up the small bell on the end table. One of the parlourmaids appeared in the room soon after.
"Hannah, if you would summon Mr. Darcy? Mr. Blair has some business he would like to speak to him about." Kitty said, politely.
"Of course ma'am." Hannah curtsied.
"Thank you, Hannah."
A few moments later, a somewhat chagrined Fitzwilliam appeared. Liam looked somewhat nervous, but stood up and bowed. "Mr. Darcy." he said, crisply.
"Mr. Blair." Mr. Darcy returned the bow."
Liam removed a letter from his coat pocket and handed it to Mr. Darcy. "This is a letter of recommendation from someone who I believe you know. Sir James Tarrywall."
Fitzwilliam's eyebrows raised at hearing the name of England's spymaster. "I indeed am acquainted with Sir Tarrywall." he remarked, moderately.
"The letter, sir, is sealed with his ring." Finding it to be thus, Fitzwilliam nodded. "It assures you of my identity. Liam Blair is, in fact, my real name. I travel under several others, but as I met your sister in law during a vacation with my family, I saw no need to cover. Mr. Darcy, as that letter informs you, my latest assignment has been investigating certain British citizens suspected of treasonous action with France." He paused, and took a deep breath before continuing, glancing at Kitty, who was watching the situation unfold. "Most recently, I have had reason to suspect several members of your family, most notably Lady Catherine de Bourgh."
Fitzwilliam was scanning the letter as Liam spoke. "I must say that Sir Tarrywall verifies your information."
"What I need to ask of you, and what Sir Tarrywall conveys in that letter, is your help. When I first made the acquaintance of Miss Bennet, and she mentioned your name, I wrote to Tarrywall by express to see if you were under the same suspicions." Liam grinned dryly. "I received a most scathing answer that you were not. Sir Tarrywall expressed that you may be willing to assist us."
"In what way do you request my assistance?" Fitzwilliam replied, sharply.
"I want to know if perhaps your family would be interested in visiting Lady Catherine over the holidays, and possibly bring along a distant cousin of yours" Liam nodded in reference to himself "Sir William Gray."
Fitzwilliam shook his head immediately. "I regret to inform you, Mr. Blair, that Lady Catherine has vowed not to welcome myself or my wife into her home. Such a plan is impossible. Her dislike of my wife runs very deep, and I refuse to leave Mrs. Darcy."
Surprising the two gentlemen, Kitty spoke up. "There is another way." she said, quietly.
Fitzwilliam turned to her. "What are you suggesting, Kitty?"
"Do hear me out, Fitzwilliam, for I doubt you will like this idea." she began, timidly. "But, I am sure that Lady Catherine would receive Georgiana and I as visitors, and we could bring Mr. Blair as our cousin."
Shaking his head, Fitzwilliam dismissed the idea. "That's not an option, Kitty."
Liam, however, was looking at Kitty with something like pride. "It is a very clever idea, Mr. Darcy. The young ladies would be in no danger whatsoever, and to them, it truly would be nothing more than a social call to relatives."
Fitzwilliam glared at Mr. Blair, and said, in a tone that had frightened many a man "I believe I said, Mr. Blair, that it is not an option."
"Mr. Darcy, I am not asking for your decision as of yet." Liam said, placating. "I simply ask, that for the benefit of Sir Tarrywall, you consider the option. I will have no problems procuring lodgings at the Inn at Lambton for a week while I await your apply."
Kitty cleared her throat slightly, and gave Fitzwilliam a stern look of her own. She'd learned, since coming to Pemberley, what a breach of etiquette it would be not to extend their hospitality to Mr. Blair. Fitzwilliam gave Kitty a piercing look, but relented.
"Mr. Blair, we would be honored if you would agree to stay at Pemberley for the week while you await my final refusal." Fitzwilliam said, with a slight bow, putting an emphasis on the last word which caused a slight glimmer of amusement to appear in Liam's eye.
"I would be honored. And, Mr. Darcy, to explain, I have only revealed myself thus in front of Miss Bennet as I have been assured that any acquaintance of yours can be trusted with secrets of such grave importance as these." Liam's tone and stance suddenly took on a somewhat threatening aspect and he gave Fitzwilliam a look that rivaled any given by that esteemed gentleman. "I trust that you and Miss Bennet will act with the utmost discretion." he finished, his charm colored with danger.
Not to be outdone, Fitzwilliam responded in like "I can assure you, Mr. Blair, that my person and my household are known for their discretion." He rang the bell and at the appearance of Hannah, nodded crisply to her. "Please show Mr. Blair to the red guest room in the West Wing, and send for his belongings." He looked back to Mr. Blair. "We dine at six." was his last remark before turning, and stalking out of the room, Kitty following him like the obedient sister in law that she was.
Interlude: Breeding Like Rabbits
In the morning, after breakfast, Elizabeth Darcy stood in the doorway of her husband's office.
"Fitzwilliam, I have something to tell you." Elizabeth's eyes were dancing mischievously.
Fearing some odd scheme, Fitzwilliam stood up, slightly wary. "Yes Elizabeth?" he replied, cautiously.
"In seven months, you will be a father." she stated, grandly, her face breaking into a smile as her husband embraced her fiercely.
"Elizabeth.." he smiled at her and shook his head. "I don't know what to say."
"Well" his wife continued, amused at having shocked her husband "an appropriate response would be to say that you're happy."
"Ecstatic." he said, gripping Elizabeth tighter, and kissing her on the forehead.
"And, you should continue on to tell your valued wife how much you love her and how you'll make the next few months the easiest time of her life." Lizzy continued, jokingly.
Fitzwilliam met her gaze. "I adore you, Elizabeth Darcy."
His wife threw her arms around his neck, and rested her head on his shoulder. "You're not so bad yourself." she whispered.
Chapter Five: You Knew Things Would Turn Out Like This
Kitty and Georgiana sat curled up by the fireplace in the music room, watching the leaves twirl around outside, and discussing the situation that Mr. Blair had revealed to the whole family.
"I don't know if I should like to go, Kitty, even if my brother were to give us permission." Georgiana mused. "You've never had an extended visit with Aunt de Bourgh."
"It wouldn't be a visit, Georgiana." Kitty replied, her eyes lighting up. "We'd be spies."
"We would not be spies." Georgiana shook her head at her sister in law's naiveté. "We would have to sit about and play whist with Aunt de Bourgh, and always let her win. Then we would sit about and play piano, afterwards listening to a lecture about why we should play more like Anne, and how her musical skills are quite superior. And, she'd be just awful about Lizzy, I know it."
"I think that's the most bitter thing I've ever heard you say." Kitty said, with a smile.
Georgiana turned bright red. "I don't mean it entirely. Aunt de Bourgh is a proud, powerful woman with many skills."
Kitty laughed. "You don't have to like everyone that's related to you, Georgiana." she made a face "I love my mama, I love Lydia, but that doesn't mean that I like them. Papa, Lizzy and Jane are much dearer to me than the others. You're just very lucky in that your brother is one of the most admirable men in England, and that my most charming sister is his wife."
"I know I'm lucky" Georgiana smiled softly. She and Kitty were having the exact affect on each other that Lizzy and Fitzwilliam had hoped. Georgiana had taught Kitty gentleness, grace and manners whereas Kitty had taught Georgiana that she need not be afraid of everything. Just as Kitty's energetic nature was now charming instead of vulgar, Georgiana's introversion was sweet and no longer came off as snobby behaviour. The two had become very close friends, although Georgiana had not shared the story of George Wickham with her sister-in-law. "You have your parents, though." she pointed out, softly. "Mama died when I was born and Papa when I was hardly ten. Fitzwilliam was already in his twenties by that point, he had them both."
Impulsively, Kitty hugged her sister-in-law. "Don't feel bad about it, dearest. We've had such a lovely time here. Even though I miss Papa, I feel sometimes like this is all the family that I need."
Meanwhile, Fitzwilliam was talking with Dr. Pierce, the local physician from Lambton, who he had called in to check over Elizabeth.
"Well, Mr. Darcy, your wife is indeed pregnant." Dr. Pierce smiled at the man. "I must give you some precautions, though. Mrs. Darcy's confinement will take place about seven months from now. She is a small woman and this first birth will be a difficult one. Mrs. Darcy may well be sick and emotional for the next half year. It would be best for her to be in a quiet atmosphere." He gave Mr. Darcy a searching look. "Mrs. Darcy has told me much of her sister, Mrs. Bingley. I understand that the Bingleys are awaiting Mrs. Bingley's confinement in London. I believe that some time with her sister will benefit Mrs. Darcy."
Mr. Darcy nodded crisply. "Thank you, Dr. Pierce. I'm sure a visit to the Bingleys can be arranged over the holidays." He handed the man a few bills, with a courteous smile. "I will be sure to keep you updated and call on you whenever I feel that Mrs. Darcy's health warrants it."
As Dr. Pierce left, Mr. Darcy sat down on an easy chair and frowned. For him and Elizabeth to visit Bingley in London would be an easy matter, but it would be something more difficult to bring along Kitty and Georgiana. Bingley's townhouse was not overly large, and he already had a large amount of his family to accommodate over the holidays. The Darcy's townhouse was currently being repaired and refurbished and would not be ready to live in for several months. The ideal solution was exactly what Mr. Blair had suggested: send the girls to Lady de Bourgh for the holidays. It would be a somewhat grim time for them. However, Fitzwilliam could not fathom sending Georgiana, or even Kitty, into a situation that could be dangerous.
When he bought it up to Elizabeth later, she smiled at him. "You know it would give me great peace of mind to be with Jane at a time like this, but I understand your concern over sending the girls to Lady Catherine." Pausing, she considered the issue for a moment, and her eyes lit up. "My dear, you know you are not Georgiana's only guardian. Do you think Colonel Fitzwilliam would be willing to chaperone the girls at Lady Catherine's and keep them safe?"
Fitzwilliam laughed. "Elizabeth, I don't know what I'd do without you. Not only will Richard be there, but also his older brother, Paul, Viscount of Matlock, always attends on Lady Catherine during the Christmas holidays. If I entrust the girls to Richard, I can be assured of their safety." He frowned. "I am not so certain about sending Mr. Blair along as someone that has any connection to our sisters, however. I do not want them implicated or endangered in any way."
"Perhaps we can think of some other reason to send Mr. Blair to Lady Catherine." Elizabeth mused. "Maybe as a general instructor of music that has been recommended to us? Therefore, he would be in contact with Kitty and Georgiana, but not necessarily connected with him."
"You are full of good ideas today." Fitzwilliam commented. "I'll draft the letter to Lady Catherine and you can go explain the situation to the girls." He frowned. "And then I'll have a talk with Mr. Blair, and explain to him that he is to keep Georgiana and Kitty out of this entire situation."
Lizzy nodded and kissed her husband on the cheek as she stood up and walked out down to the music room, knowing that was the most likely place to find her sisters. Sure enough, Elizabeth walked in on the two of them sitting together by the fire, still chatting. They both looked up and smiled as she entered.
"Girls, I have some good news, some middling news and some bad news." Elizabeth said, with a grin. "The good news is" and her entire face lit up "I'm going to have a child." Immediately Georgiana gasped and Kitty leaped up to give her sister a hug.
"Lizzy, that's incredible!" Kitty said, releasing her sister. "I'm so happy!"
Georgiana stood up, and embraced Lizzy, still somewhat shyly. "Don't get too happy yet, girls." Lizzy said, still smiling. "Due to the doctor's advice, Fitzwilliam recommends that I go to London to be with Jane over the holidays." Elizabeth paused, and took a deep breath. "Would you two mind spending the about a month with Lady Catherine?" Before they could even speak, she continued quickly. "Mr. Blair would accompany you as a music teacher, and that would be it." She gave Kitty an especially stern look. "You would not, in any way, be spying or encouraging spying by others."
"You don't have to lecture us, Lizzy." Kitty said, somewhat piqued. "If it's good for you and the baby, Georgiana and I could put up with much worse than simply spending some time with Lady Catherine, couldn't we Georgiana?" In reply, Georgiana nodded.
"It won't be all bad." Lizzy continued. "Georgiana's cousins, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Viscount Matlock will be present for the duration of your visit, and Kitty, Charlotte is having Mariah stay for the holidays."
Georgiana looked more pleased at this. "It's fine with me, Lizzy." she said, quietly. "I don't care much for spending time with Lady Catherine, but it would be lovely to see my cousins again."
"And Mariah Lucas is really a very nice girl." Kitty added, helpfully.
Elizabeth laughed. "I daresay you can hardly wait to leave, Kitty." she said, teasingly. "I've never seen someone so excited to spend time with Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Collins."
"Ugh." Kitty shuddered. "Lizzy, must we spend very much time with Mr. Collins?"
Elizabeth gave her sister a somewhat stern look. "Not very much, but, really Kitty, you have to be polite. He is your cousin, and Charlotte is his wife."
"I know, Lizzy." Kitty looked repentant for a moment and then grinned. "At least now that he's safely married there's no danger that he'll try to propose to either one of us. Can't you just imagine Mr. Collins presuming to Miss Georgiana Darcy of Pemberley?"
Georgiana blushed at that. "Kitty, stop it." she said, weakly.
Elizabeth fixed both of the girls with a stern look. "Kitty, Georgiana, I want to be very frank with you right now." she said, gravely. "Fitzwilliam and I don't feel overly comfortable sending you to Rosings under,, the circumstances at present. Above all, I want you both to stay out of Mr. Blair's way. You are in no way working with him. I want you to forget that he is anything but your music teacher. The more you can think of him that way, the better."
"We will, Lizzy." the girls said, Kitty somewhat downcast at the prospect, Georgiana seeming to be more relieved than anything else.
"Very good then." Elizabeth smiled. "You should be leaving in about two weeks. Kitty, you're going to need some fancier gowns, and Georgiana, you need a new Christmas dress, so Madame Deveraeux is going to come in from London."
Georgiana's mouth dropped open. "Mme Deveraeux is going to make us dresses?" She poked Kitty in the side, shyness all forgotten. "Kitty, she is one of the best dressmakers in London!"
Kitty's eyes widened. "Lizzy, I can't let you do that." she said, firmly. "You know I'm still a poor country girl."
"Kitty, love, let me do it. If nothing else, it will keep Lady Catherine from saying that we don't dress you two properly." Lizzy said, with a roll of her eyes. "Now, off with you girls. I'm sure you'll need to figure out what you have to pack."
Meanwhile Fitzwilliam was giving a speech that involved more of the stern looks and less of the giggles than Elizabeth's did. He was sitting across from Liam Blair and spending most of his time glaring at the other man.
"You are to keep Miss Bennet and Miss Darcy out of your concerns." he said, harshly.
"I have no need for two giggling schoolgirls in my business, Mr. Darcy." Liam said, with somewhat of an edge to his voice.
"My sisters are intelligent women. If I didn't fear that they were intrigued by your business, I wouldn't give you such warnings. You are their music teacher, nothing more."
"And I assure you, Mr. Darcy, my musical skills are excellent." Liam said. "Mr. Darcy, I deeply appreciate your allowing me to journey to Rosings with your recommendation, but I assure you that I am not going to involve your sisters in anything. Sir, I am a professional."
"I did not mean to insult your professionalism." Fitzwilliam said, standing up and bowing crisply. "I must, however, hold you to your promise not to involve my sisters in any way. You will leave in two weeks." With that, he exited.
Liam sighed, and stretched out in his chair. For almost a week he'd been at Pemberley, and beyond meals, he had hardly had any contact with the family. It seemed like Fitzwilliam was determined to keep him away from Georgiana and Kitty at any cost. He had gone on some rides with Fitzwilliam but that was it. He found Fitzwilliam to be a well read, intelligent man, and as long as they both forgot who the other was, they were very good friends. He was somewhat charmed by Miss Bennet, and admired the placid beauty of the Miss Darcy, but had yet to speak to either of them.
Liam stood up, and picked another book off the wall.
Chapter Six: Flirtations and Regrets
The household was in a rush getting ready for everyone's departure. Liam, Kitty and Georgiana would leave in a week and a half, Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth soon after. With three women to pack gowns for, the housemaids were hurried, and Kitty and Georgiana tried to stay out of their way more than anything. Neither of them had ever been part of such a large journey before, and they found all the commotion confusing. More and more often, they spent the entire day in the music room.
They were sitting in that room after lunch one day, Kitty staring out the window and Georgiana playing on the piano, when Liam walked in. The two girls sat up quickly, Georgiana stopped playing and Liam looked embarrassed.
"Excuse me, Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet." he said, with a bow. "I didn't mean to disturb you, I was simply trying to avoid the commotion."
Kitty stood up off her window seat and smiled. "Please, stay, Mr. Blair. We've hardly seen you since you came to stay here."
"Thank you, Miss Bennet." he glanced to Georgiana. "Miss Darcy, that was a lovely song you were playing. Do you care to continue?"
Georgiana turned bright red. "If you're sure you don't mind, I will." she said, quietly.
"Please, do. It would be a pleasure." Liam smiled at Georgiana, and took a seat on the couch. Kitty sat herself down in her favorite armchair across from him, and Georgiana began playing again.
"Mr. Blair, I'm glad to hear that you'll be accompanying us to Rosings Park." Kitty said, delicately.
"It was a relief to me as well." Liam replied, with a mischievous sort of grin.
Kitty gave him a very decorous look. "As you can tell, though, I doubt Miss Darcy will have much need of your services. She is an extremely skilled musician."
"That is apparent." Liam raised one eyebrow at Kitty. "And you, Miss Bennet? How are your musical skills?"
"I do not presume to the expertise of Miss Darcy." Kitty said, with a mischievous glint in her eyes as she met Liam's gaze.
Liam leaned forward. "Perhaps then, Miss Bennet, you will need a great deal of musical instruction." Even though every inch of Liam knew that what he was doing was wrong and would get him little more than trouble, he couldn't resist Kitty. She wasn't the prettiest girl he'd ever seen, but there was something about her that seemed challenging and naïve all at once, which was quite irresistible to Liam.
As for Kitty, her blood was racing with excitement. She'd flirted with the officers when they had been in Meryton, but knew everything about them and always felt detached from the situation, as though she was simply doing what was expected of her. With Mr. Blair, there was not only attraction, but intrigue. The only thing she was thinking about was how far she could take the flirtation and not give him the wrong idea. In order to accomplish this, she laughed a little and leaned back in her chair, keeping a warm smile on her face. "We'll just have to see about that when you hear me play."
At that, Georgiana's song ended, and she came over to sit next to Kitty on the couch, keeping a curious eye on her friend and Liam. "Your playing was excellent, Miss Darcy." Liam said, with a charming smile to her. "Miss Bennet was right to praise your skills so highly. I daresay that I will have trouble teaching music to one so gifted."
"You're too kind." Georgiana replied, politely. "I'm sure you are much more knowledgeable than I, Mr. Blair."
"Miss Bennet, Miss Darcy, you're wanted in the sewing room." a maid said from the door, dropping a quick curtsy.
"You'll excuse us, Mr. Blair?" Kitty said, standing.
"Of course." Liam rose, and bowed to them both crisply, following them out the door and up to his own room, where he pulled out a leather bound blank book, opening it to a clean page. At the top he wrote the name Catherine Bennet, and then stared at the empty space.
"It's a fleeting attraction." he said, standing up and staring at his reflection in the full-length mirror on the wall. "You're stuck out in the country, and she's a charming, pretty little thing. She's not even that pretty, compared to Mrs. or Miss Darcy." Liam ran a hand through his hair and grinned humorlessly at himself. "You've held out on much more beautiful and enticing women than this one. Don't break the record."
With that, Liam resolutely sat down and picked up his pen.
At dinner that night, Elizabeth was absent, due to an upset stomach. Fitzwilliam looked out of sorts at being deprived the company of his wife, but also reluctant to let his sister and sister-in-law dine alone with a stranger. Georgiana, still somewhat afraid of her brother in a bad mood, was quiet and staring at her plate. Still angry with himself from before, Liam refused to make conversation, which left the burden of making the dinner bearable to Kitty.
As Liam watched taciturnly, Kitty somehow made the situation work, asking Fitzwilliam about his favorite horses, and getting Georgiana to speak up about music. She was surprisingly subtle, yet determined to make it a pleasant evening without being annoying about it. The only one that shot down her attempts at pleasant conversations was Liam himself, and although he realized how he was acting, Liam was unable to stop. As the meal ended, Kitty looked at Liam, somewhat curious and sad at the same time, and excused herself to the library. Liam cursed himself, walking up the stairs, thanking God that they would be leaving for Rosings Park in little less than a week.
Chapter Seven: And So It Begins: Adventures at Rosings Park
Kitty had never seen Rosings before, and she stared eagerly out the window as the coach approached the grand estate. "Why, Georgiana." she said, cautiously. "It's not quite so grand as Pemberley at all!"
Georgiana nodded quietly. "Rosings Park is a lovely estate, but it is no Pemberley." she confirmed.
Frowning slightly, Kitty continued. "From what Mr. Collins had told us, I had been sure that Rosings Park was the largest and grandest estate in all of England."
"Aunt Catherine would much like you to think so." Georgiana remarked somewhat cryptically, and then fell silent. Kitty had noticed her growing quieter as they approached Rosings, and fretted somewhat, not wanting this visit to make her friend miserable. She spoke up again, suddenly. "You are so different from her, Kitty. I can hardly believe that you two share a name."
Kitty laughed. "Thank you. But no one has actually called me Catherine since I was a child. Maybe it will at least make Lady de Bourgh look upon me more favorably. Your silence has made me grow quite nervous."
"Oh, I didn't mean to make you nervous." Georgiana said, apologetically. "It's just that Aunt Catherine asks so many questions, and she was so severely displeased with Fitzwilliam and Lizzy after the wedding that I can hardly imagine her greeting us with any kind of civility." Georgiana sighed. "It is much better that Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother are here. The Viscount is a very nice man, from what I've met of him, and the Colonel even more so."
"And if worse comes to worse, Mariah Lucas is a nice girl." Kitty said, timidly. "She's not quite the brightest one ever and she's very outgoing, but she's sweet and one can spend a fair bit of time with her enjoyably. She is my sister Lydia's close friend."
"Yes. of course." Georgiana said, somewhat distracted, as the coach stopped outside Rosings, and the door opened. Kitty gave her hand a squeeze, as a coachman helped Georgiana out, and then Kitty. Before them stood the imposing figure of Lady Catherine, bedecked and beplumed like no other. Kitty could hardly keep her mouth open. To her left, stood two tall, dark haired men, both well dressed, whom Kitty assumed to be Colonel Fitzwilliam and Viscount Matlock, and to her right, a pale, sickly looking young woman who must be Miss de Bourgh. As they got out, Georgiana and Kitty curtsied immediately.
As they stood up, Lady Catherine stepped towards them and embraced Georgiana. "Georgiana, it is lovely to see you again." she said. "You have grown, almost to Anne's height." Lady Catherine then glanced at Kitty, and with a cool nod, greeted her. "Miss Bennet."
Kitty curtsied again. "Lady de Bourgh."
Lady Catherine sniffed haughtily. "I can hardly see how your brother would consider one of his wife's sisters a suitable companion for a Darcy. You must count yourself very lucky, Miss Bennet."
"Indeed, Lady de Bourgh, I am very grateful for the opportunity offered by Mr. Darcy and your condescension in allowing me to visit here, accompanying your niece." Kitty said, keeping her tone of voice low and even, realizing that this would be the largest test of her new manners yet. Any slip and she knew that Lady Catherine would pounce upon her.
Lady Catherine turned back to Georgiana. "The music teacher your brother sent arrived yesterday. Although Anne finds that she has little to learn from him, but she appreciates the new music that he bought with him from London." She looked back at the men and her daughter, realizing that a certain degree of civility was necessary. "Miss Bennet, may I introduce you to Colonel Fitzwilliam, Viscount Matlock and my daughter, Miss de Bourgh?" she said, with the tone of someone doing a very reluctant duty.
Kitty curtsied deeply, and when she rose, the Viscount took her hand and kissed it. "Miss Bennet, I have heard much of your sister, Mrs. Darcy, and had the pleasure of meeting your sister, Mrs. Bingley. I must say that you uphold the tradition of beauty."
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed as he kissed Kitty's hand in a much more casual manner. "Miss Bennet, I cannot presume to the glib tongue of my brother, but it is a delight to meet you."
Smiling sweetly at both of them, Kitty replied "It is an honor to meet you both." Anne de Bourgh made no move to introduce herself to Kitty, and Lady Catherine then turned to the footmen.
"Take care of this." she barked "And then show Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet to their rooms." With that, Lady Catherine turned around and stalked into the house, the entire party following her, except for one footman.
"Miss Darcy, Miss Bennet, please follow me." he said, and the girls dutifully did so.
After climbing what seemed like endless flights of stairs, and going down a myriad of twisted halls, Kitty was shown her room. It was right next to Georgiana's, which relieved her, but after seeing her friend's room, she could see that hers was clearly much smaller, and while still furnished nicely, it was too a less grand scale than her room at Pemberley or Georgiana's room.
Hearing on a knock on her door, Kitty stood up from the chair she had been reading in, and opened it, to reveal Georgiana, with a disgusted look on her face. "Kitty, this is dreadful of Aunt Catherine!" she said, looking around the room. "Do you know what this room is meant for?" Georgiana demanded of Kitty, with the most emotion Kitty had ever seen her give in a speech. "This is meant for my a lady's companion, like Mrs. Jenkins is to Anne. It is meant for a glorified servant!" Furiously, Georgiana walked inside and pointed to a door in the wall. "That door is to my room, so that you can come tend to me whenever I need. Can you believe the nerve of Aunt Catherine? I am going to go to her at once."
Kitty laughed. "Georgiana, darling, calm down. This is the same size as my room at Longbourn, it's not too small by any means. Let's not try and upset Lady Catherine any more than necessary. At least she hasn't put us in opposite wings, and I have a door so that I can talk to you whenever I want." She smiled at her friend. "It's kind of true in a way, dear. I'm just a Bennet, I'm not a Darcy."
Georgiana stuck out her chin stubbornly. "You are the daughter of a gentleman, I am the daughter of a gentleman. Our siblings are married. You deserve nothing less than what I get." She frowned. "I won't go see Aunt Catherine about it if it will upset you, but it's very vexing to me that she should treat you with such disrespect."
Kitty shrugged. "I guess it shows that just a title doesn't make you a lady." she said, glibly, and smiled at Georgiana. "Sit down with me here, and let's ring for some tea."
A few hours later, the girls sat down to their first supper in the Rosings dining room. Lady Catherine sat at the head of the table, with her daughter on her right and Viscount Matlock on her left. Georgiana sat next to Anne de Bourgh and Colonel Fitzwilliam, across from the Viscount, who sat next to Kitty. It seemed a small group for such a large room, and Kitty was almost overawed by the splendor of it, the room being decorated in a flashy manner that Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth never favored for Pemberley.
"Georgiana, did you find your journey tiring?" Lady Catherine in a somewhat demanding tone.
"I did not find it too strenuous, Aunt." Georgiana replied, meekly.
"I daresay you did, child!" Lady Catherine sounded put out. "I never travel very far from home because of the dreadful state of transportation." She sniffed haughtily, and continued in a brutally sarcastic tone. "I suppose, though, with the comfort of Miss Bennet, you had no problems."
Georgiana met her aunt's gaze. "Miss Bennet was a great comfort to me on the long journey, just as I hope that I was a great comfort to her."
"I'm sure you were, Miss Darcy." the Viscount said, noticing the tension between Lady Catherine and her niece. "I've found travel to be very comfortable these days. My trip from London seemed nothing." He looked curiously to Kitty. "Miss Bennet, where are you originally from?"
"An estate near Meryton, sir, in the south." Kitty replied, and Lady Catherine sniffed.
"I'm aware that you are uneducated, Miss Catherine Bennet, but surely even a woman of your means should know that the proper way to address an Viscount is "your lordship."" Lady Catherine sniffed again, haughtily.
Kitty was flustered by this upbraiding, and Lady Catherine continued smugly. "You see, Georgiana, it is always the responsibility of a lady to educate their companions."
The anger rising in Georgiana was apparent to everyone at the table, and she spoke in clipped, biting tones as she addressed her aunt. "I'm sure you are aware, Aunt Catherine, that the best people in London have decided that in an informal situation, all men with a rank above knight can be politely addressed as "sir", without violating any bounds of propriety. And, Aunt Catherine, Miss Bennet is not my companion or my servant. She is the daughter of a gentleman, I am the daughter of a gentleman." Georgiana looked her aunt squarely in the eye. "Miss Bennet is my equal."
"Are you ignorant of her mother? Of her aunts, of her uncles?" Lady Catherine gave Georgiana a fierce look. "Can you tell me, Georgiana, that you are ignorant of Miss Bennet's sister, the infamous Mrs. Wickham?"
Kitty stood up, angrily. "Lady Catherine, I am certain that even a woman of your means should know that in no way is it considered proper to malign a person in that person's presence. If you do not want me here, if you did not desire my prescience, then there is clearly some misunderstanding. I will write my sisters, Mrs. Darcy and Mrs. Bingley, and be away from here as soon as possible. And now, if you will excuse me." Kitty curtsied slightly. "Viscount Matlock, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I apologize for this display. Good evening." With that, she turned around and very decisively walked back to her room, where she finally slammed the door and allowed herself a small shriek of frustration.
Chapter Eight: Drawn Into the Intrigue
"That's hardly lady-like, Miss Bennet." an amused voice commented. Kitty whirled around to see Liam Blair lounging on her bed.
"What are you doing there?" Kitty asked, her voice trembling, barely keeping control of her emotions.
Liam held back his laughter. "I let myself in."
"I can see that." Kitty replied, taking great efforts to be composed.
"I wanted to talk to you, Miss Bennet." Liam said calmly, as though that explained everything.
Kitty sat herself down in a chair. "If you're going to sneak in my room, you don't have to call me Miss Bennet anymore." she remarked, seemingly randomly.
"In public I do." Liam replied, smoothly.
An arch look. "We're hardly in public, Mr. Blair."
He leaned forward, an amused look in his eye, which simultaneously annoyed and delighted Kitty. "I'll call you Kitty if you'll call me Liam." he said, teasingly.
Throwing her hands up in the air, Kitty sighed. "You win! Miss Bennet it is. Now go on explaining why you're here."
"I need to ask you a favor, Miss Bennet." Liam said. "I don't want to, because I made a promise to your brother in law that I'd do nothing of the sort, and here I am on the first day, asking you to help me. But my position here does not allow me to do one thing: become acquainted with the gentleman." His demeanor suddenly businesslike, Liam stood up. "Duke Robert Windham will be arriving here tomorrow, and it is well known to us that either Viscount Matlock or Duke Windham is Lady Catherine's partner in espionage. We had suspected Miss de Bourgh, but it is definitely one of those two gentlemen."
"Mr. Blair, Lady Catherine has no respect for me. She treats me like a servant." Kitty frowned. "I somehow think she'll dismiss me from her house tomorrow."
"She can't, Miss Bennet. Not without losing the goodwill of Mr. Darcy, which is something Lady Catherine can ill-afford, as she borrowed money from him a month ago." Liam frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that she's been rude to you, but trust me, she won't allow you to leave. I need you to get to know Viscount Matlock, Miss Bennet. Be flirtatious, but polite, with him. Miss Darcy is his cousin, and although your background may prevent him from having serious designs, you would be the perfect country flirtation for him."
"My background, my family, my home life.." Kitty frowned in frustration. "Until tonight, I considered myself more well off than most in England, and now, my upbringing and family has been constantly maligned for its simplicity."
"I meant no insult, Miss Bennet, simply a statement of fact." Liam gave her an unsympathetic look. "My grandfather was a pig farmer. A very successful pig farmer, but a pig farmer nonetheless. I am aware that it is much easier for a man to work his way up in the world than a woman, but believe me Kitty, you're hardly starting out shorthanded."
"I know." Kitty collected herself. "I'm sorry, Mr. Blair, that was rather whiny of me." She gave him a weak smile. "So I'm to flirt with Viscount Matlock and Duke Windham?" she asked, and at his nod, she laughed.
"What do you find so amusing, Miss Bennet?" Liam asked
"The irony." Kitty said, in between giggles. When a look from Liam assured her that this was not a sufficient answer, she elaborated. "A year ago, I was friends with my sister Lydia, and followed in every one of her footsteps: including trying to be the second most flirtatious, empty headed young woman in my entire town. Now that I've finally grown up a bit, I'm being asked to flirt again."
"Don't be silly or empty-headed, that would hardly attract a man of the Viscount's intelligence." Liam mused. "Miss Bennet, you have a rather charming and witty manner." He gave her a somewhat wan smile. "Just converse with the Viscount in an intelligent manner, and never, ever underestimate his intelligence. Now, I must go. Miss Darcy will be returning from dinner soon and will doubtless want to talk to you."
Kitty began to laugh again and shook her head. "Mr. Blair. You ride four hours to assure me of your apologies for ungentlemanly behaviour not two months ago, and now you ask me for a favor without waiting for a response or thanking me."
"You have my heartiest thanks, Miss Bennet." Liam said, opening the window of the second floor room. "Now, to depart the way I came."
"The window?" Kitty's eyes widened, and she stood next to him.
"Will you be dreadfully sad if I fall, Miss Bennet?" Liam said, a flirtatious glint in his eyes.
Kitty met his gaze, and smiled sweetly at Liam, fluttering her eyelashes enchantingly as she replied to him. "Not at all, Mr. Blair." she said, closing the window behind him as he climbed out.
Just as Liam had suspected, Lady Catherine made no allusion to the incident at dinner, and was actually quite polite to Kitty at breakfast, and retired to her rooms after the meal, complaining of an illness. Anne de Bourgh immediately sat down at the piano, and began to play dreadfully. Kitty gave Georgiana a significant look. "Georgiana, I think that my head hurts." she lied, efficiently, for the benefit of Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Viscount. "I think I am going to take a walk."
Georgiana nodded. "I shall join you, Kitty." she said, decisively.
The Viscount gave a crisp bow to the girls. "If you will excuse me then, ladies, I have some correspondence to attend to."
"I do as well." Colonel Fitzwilliam said, and they all exited.
After putting on their winter garments, Kitty and Georgiana set out on a fairly worn in looking path, and as soon as they were away from the house, Georgiana stopped and looked at Kitty. "Kitty, dearest, if you want to go straight back to Pemberley, I shouldn't blame you." Georgiana stated, firmly. "Mrs. Reynolds would be there, and we can have our own Christmastime." The young woman jutted her chin out. "Lady Catherine behaved quite dreadfully to you."
Considering the option for a moment, Kitty paused. In a way, it would be nice to leave all of this behind: no more of Lady Catherine's not-so-subtle insults, the scrutiny that she felt from the Viscount, no more Liam Blair showing up unannounced in her room to torment her by night. Then, she sighed. "Georgiana, that sounds partially wonderful, but I think this is something we have to face up to." Kitty abruptly sat down under a tree. "In a way, I suppose that it's good for us. I mean, you have to be outgoing and stand up to your aunt, whereas if I do not behave impeccably, I will be censured." Kitty smiled wanly. "And sadly enough, I think that's something that will be good for us both."
Georgiana nodded her consent, and then both the girls jumped as they heard the sound of a throat clearing behind them. Kitty stood up and Georgiana turned around to see a tall, blonde man with a somewhat crooked noise and adorable eyes smiling at them. He was well dressed, and appeared to be three and twenty.
"Pardon the interruption, ladies." he said, with a crisp bow "I was looking for my friend, the Viscount Matlock."
"Viscount Matlock is currently in Rosings" Kitty said, somewhat suspiciously.
The man laughed. "I'm Robert Windham." he said, bowing again to the girls. "Lady Catherine and Viscount Matlock are expecting me for the holidays."
Georgiana curtsied. "I'm Georgiana Darcy and this is Catherine Bennet." she said, sweetly. "I'm Lady Catherine's niece and Miss Bennet is our guest." Kitty curtsied as well, and Georgiana smiled with a somewhat mischievous and un-Georgiana like glint in her eyes. "It's nice to meet you, your Grace."
Robert laughed again. "Victory to you, Miss Darcy." He turned to Kitty. "Miss Bennet, I have a dreadful habit of travelling incognito. I must admit to you that I am, amongst other things, the Marchioness of Waverly." He shrugged, and grinned. "It's a frightful fact which I try to conceal as much as possible."
Forgetting her manners for a moment, Kitty replied to him quite dryly "It must be simply dreadful for you." A moment later, she blushed, but luckily Robert was already laughing.
"Miss Bennet, Miss Darcy, it is my pleasure to meet two women so bright and vivacious. It would be my honor to escort you both back to Rosings Park and enjoy more of your company before I find my errant friend." Robert offered each of the girls an arm, which both accepted, and they made their way back to the estate.
Kitty stole a glance at him every few minutes, comparing him to Viscount Matlock in her mind. It was, to say the least, disconcerting to know that one of these men was a traitor to his country and potentially dangerous. Maybe it was just too early to tell but Kitty had no idea which one would turn out to be the traitor.